How can I become qualified to teach maths?

[clidedescope]

Doings  Secondary Education/Arts at monash Clayton this year, and I need to put in my units soon. I went to the info session yesterday. I thought I'd heard the presenter tell us that we could teach maths if we did it as part of our arts degree, but there aren't any subjects for it. So how can I become qualified? Do I do it as part of my education degree instead?

Already chosen my major, btw; literature so I can teach english, and I planned for my minors to be maths (to teach it) and criminology (for legal studies). I've tried to find the page the presenter got up for us on the monash site that tells us what we need to do in order to teach particular subjects, but I really can't see it. If somebody already had the link, it would be fantastically helpful!

[Professor Polonsky]

The handbook confirms that you need to do the 'discipline studies' (curriculum stuff) in the other side of your degree.

As there's no maths in an Arts degree, I'm not sure that this is possible Perhaps check with the education faculty?

[clidedescope]

The handbook confirms that you need to do the 'discipline studies' (curriculum stuff) in the other side of your degree.

As there's no maths in an Arts degree, I'm not sure that this is possible Perhaps check with the education faculty?

Thanks for clearing that up I've sent an enquiry to monash, hopefully they can help me out!

[spaciiey]

This confusion with wanting to do unusual teaching method combinations but seemingly being unable to was the reason I didn't do teaching as an undergrad. I hope it gets sorted out. If it's any consolation, once you're a qualified teacher you really can teach whatever subjects you want -- I had a teacher in high school that over the course of her career, taught literally every subject group (English, Maths, Humanities, Science, you name it). It's more about being a teacher of students rather than being a teacher of subjects. Good luck!

[clidedescope]

This confusion with wanting to do unusual teaching method combinations but seemingly being unable to was the reason I didn't do teaching as an undergrad. I hope it gets sorted out. If it's any consolation, once you're a qualified teacher you really can teach whatever subjects you want -- I had a teacher in high school that over the course of her career, taught literally every subject group (English, Maths, Humanities, Science, you name it). It's more about being a teacher of students rather than being a teacher of subjects. Good luck!

Thanks for your response! Yeah, it's kinda a shame - English, legal and further maths were my favourite subjects. I really appreciate you telling me the story about your teacher from high school, it gives me some hope in case this doesn't work out for me. I ended up contacting Monash and they told me I couldn't specialise in both english and maths in my degree, which seems ridiculous. I've sent an inquiry about whether I could overload one year so I could do both anyway

[Professor Polonsky]

Overloading doesn't let you do more units in total - it just means that you do them more quickly.

[clidedescope]

Overloading doesn't let you do more units in total - it just means that you do them more quickly.

True. I'm just wondering if there's a way to cram more units into my course than is actually necessary so I can meet the requirements for both english and maths? Either way, I've sent another question to monash about my options

[spaciiey]

Sorry for the necro-post, I've been overseas and have had no computer access. I just realised some other options: you could try enrol in a concurrent maths diploma? It would take you an extra year but it would leave you suitably qualified to become a maths teacher and to choose maths as a teaching method (I think).

Alternatively what would DEFINITELY work is that you could transfer into Bachelor of Arts and then do your major/minor however you please and THEN as a post-grad do a Master of Teaching? As long as you have a high credit/distinction average throughout your undergrad, you should breeze into the course. It would mean more time at uni (possibly more $$ too but MTeach does have CSP positions) but it would only be 4.5 years total at uni (if you choose the accelerated teaching course) compared to 4 years doing arts/edu.

[anna.xo]

Sorry for the necro-post, I've been overseas and have had no computer access. I just realised some other options: you could try enrol in a concurrent maths diploma? It would take you an extra year but it would leave you suitably qualified to become a maths teacher and to choose maths as a teaching method (I think).

Alternatively what would DEFINITELY work is that you could transfer into Bachelor of Arts and then do your major/minor however you please and THEN as a post-grad do a Master of Teaching? As long as you have a high credit/distinction average throughout your undergrad, you should breeze into the course. It would mean more time at uni (possibly more $$ too but MTeach does have CSP positions) but it would only be 4.5 years total at uni (if you choose the accelerated teaching course) compared to 4 years doing arts/edu.

On the subject of the MTeach, what does that actually consist of ? With that, do you specialise in any area (math, science, etc) or is it similar to the education undergrad ? The layout of the undergrad was the reason I chose not to opt for the degree. Is the MTeach similar to the DipEd ? Thanks

[spaciiey]

You can no longer really do a single year DipEd, they are slowly being phased out and being replaced with longer (18 months to 2 years) Masters degrees. I can't speak for other institutions but I'd say that Monash's MTeach is somewhere between an undergrad education degree and a DipEd. When enrolling in a post-grad education course, you get to choose two methods if you are doing secondary education. In order to be accepted into those methods you have to meet the criteria listed on the VIT website: http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/PDF/1672_Specialist-Area-Guidelines-Nov08.pdf

In the MTeach course, you also do some general units on education and learning how to learn, curriculum, etc.

In terms of course structure, I'm not really sure how to answer but here is the course map for the course I am doing if that clarifies anything for you: http://monash.edu.au/education/current-students/courses/maps/2015/2015-map-d6001-mteach-sec.pdf

[DisaFear]

Overloading doesn't let you do more units in total - it just means that you do them more quickly.

Not sure how it works in other faculties, but my experience with Science: I wanted to do an extra unit over summer (a research one) and they let me, not sure if it was due to grades or not. The reception lady went and had a chat with the others, came back and siad "yep you can do an extra unit"

So it may be possible to do an extra unit or two if the circumstances are right.

[clidedescope]

Sorry for the necro-post, I've been overseas and have had no computer access. I just realised some other options: you could try enrol in a concurrent maths diploma? It would take you an extra year but it would leave you suitably qualified to become a maths teacher and to choose maths as a teaching method (I think).

Alternatively what would DEFINITELY work is that you could transfer into Bachelor of Arts and then do your major/minor however you please and THEN as a post-grad do a Master of Teaching? As long as you have a high credit/distinction average throughout your undergrad, you should breeze into the course. It would mean more time at uni (possibly more $$ too but MTeach does have CSP positions) but it would only be 4.5 years total at uni (if you choose the accelerated teaching course) compared to 4 years doing arts/edu.

Ah, thanks for the reply! I'll consider the diploma of maths for certain!

Not sure how it works in other faculties, but my experience with Science: I wanted to do an extra unit over summer (a research one) and they let me, not sure if it was due to grades or not. The reception lady went and had a chat with the others, came back and siad "yep you can do an extra unit"

So it may be possible to do an extra unit or two if the circumstances are right.

Yeah, I've spoken to Monash about it, and I'm able to do a unit or two in maths extra if I like. Unfortunately, I would probably have to pay the whole year's fee though, which seems really silly. Still, depending on how I feel about the workload, it's an option! Thanks for your input